Music device



Nov. 4, 1969 L. D. ROSEN 3,476,004

MUSIC DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 E0/v 0. Rosi/v Nov. 4, 1969l L. D. ROSEN 3,476,004

MUSIC DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 505 fsm INVENTOR.

LEN D. FUSE/V Nov. 4, 1969 L. D. ROSEN MUSIC DEVICE Filed Oct. 22, 1965 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I NVENTOR.

LEON D. ROSEN United States Patent Office 3,476,004 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 U.S. Cl. 84-97 10 Claims ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE Apparatus for automatically playing a musical composition comprising a base with music staff lines thereon, the base being adapted to receive note producing members on and between the staff lines. A playing head for producing sounds is located above the base and positioned transverse to the staff lines. The head contains elements, each of which is activated by note producing members at one position on the staff lines to produce a sound of a particular pitch. The pitch of the sound corresponds to the pitch that would be designated by a mark at the same position on the music staif lines of a music manuscript.

This invention relates to musical devices and more particularly to devices for playing recorded tunes.

The playing of a musical composition generally involves the production of sounds by a musician playing a musical instrument. Such an arrangement provides for great flexibility inasmuch as new and old musical compositions and variations in them may be thereby readily played and heard. However, it is often the case that a person who desires to hear a musical composition or tune which is recorded only in the form of a written musical manuscript, cannot play a musical instrument with the required skill. A device for readily enabling the production of musical sounds in accordance with musical manuscripts of the conventional type, without requiring proficiency in the playing of a musical instrument, would be a very entertaining and useful device.

Mechanisms of the music box type have been proposed which would allow for the automatic playing of any tune within a certain range of complexity. For example, it has been proposed to construct music boxes wherein the pins which plunk tone producing bars can be removed and reinserted in different holes to form a new record. However, in the proposed types of mechanisms the records could not be readily assembled by using a written manuscript as a guide. Furthermore, the assembly of a record in accordance with a new tune would be a tedious and uneducational experience, the assembly being a trial and error process involving the repeated moving about of pins until a record were assembled which played the desired tune.

This invention provides a musical playing device for playing any tune or musical composition, wherein the record which is manipulated to change the tune closely resembles a writen musical manuscript and wherein the Changing of the recorded tune is accomplished in a manner similar to the erasing and writing of notes on music paper. The foregoing device utilizes a surface which carries or apparently carries lines resembling the staff lines of written music. Individual note members or note bits such as pins are positioned on or between music staff lines so that the bits correspond to notes as written on the staff lines of music paper. The note bits move past a row of tone producing members such as vibrating bars to activate them and play a series of notes corresponding to a desired tune. For example, in one embodiment of the invention pins are provided which t into holes in a stati-lined surface to form a record. The surface is moved past a row of vibrating bars to plunk them and play a tune. The record which produces the melody closely resembles a written musical manuscript with which a musician could play the melody.

The device of the invention enables a person to readily produce a record for playing a tune, using as a guide a manuscript intended for use by a musician. Additionally, the4 close resemblance of the record to a conventionally written musical composition teaches the relationship between written notes and the sounds they produce. In assembling a record a person learns to read conventionally written music and, by observing the playing of the record and the relationship between the placement and/or size of la note bit and the actual sound created thereby, the learning process is considerably enhanced.

Accordingly, it is one object of the present invention to provide a device for the recording of music directly from a written musical manuscript.

Another object is to provide a device for teaching persons to read conventionally written musical manuscripts.

A further object is to provide a device to aid in cornposing music by providing a means of readily recording a tune soon after it is thought of, and to allow such recording to be made in a manner similar to the writing of music on a blank musical manuscript.

A still further object is to provide a playable musical record of the same basic appearance as a conventional musical manuscript.

Other objects and a fuller understanding of the invention may be had by reference to the following description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a pictorial representation of a first embodiment of the invention, wherein a combination of plunking pins and vibrating bars is utilized.

FIG. 2 is a partial plan view of the rst embodiment of the invention showing the playing head and a portion of the record base thereof.

FIG. 3 is a partial, sectional, front elevation view of the first embodiment of the invention showing the playing head and a portion of the record base thereof.

FIG. 4 is a partial plan view of a second embodiment of the invention which utilizes a plurality of switches which operate a battery of oscillators, showing the playing head and a portion of the record base thereof, and including a plurality of note members for playing a particular melody, specifically, a portion of the United States National Anthem.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a portion of a typical music manuscript on which is written notes representing the melody which is recorded on the record shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a partial side elevation view of the second embodiment of the invention showing the playing head and a portion of the record base.

FIG. 7 is a partial side elevation view of a variation of the second embodiment, in which completion of an electrical circuit is accomplished by electrical contact between a note bit and a spring-like conductor of the playing head.

FIG. 8 is a partial, exploded view of the playing head portion of a third embodiment of the invention, which utilizes light beams that activate photocells.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to a first embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the invention comprises a case 10 of wood or the like within which is mouted a motor with speed reducer 12. The motor 12 carries a shaft 14 which revolves at a speed of about one revolution per minute when the motor is connected to an appropriate electrical source (not shown). The shaft 14 carries a disk-like record base 18 which is situated immediately above the top of the case 10.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, the record base 18 is a composite of two disks: a facing disk 20 and a back-up disk 22. The facing disk 20 includes `a circumferential portion which has numerous small bit holes 26 formed therethrough, Five circular staff lines 28 shown in FIG. 2 are marked concentrically with the center of the disk 20 on the upper surface 21 of its circumferential portion. The staff lines 28 have the same general -appearance as -the staff lines used in conventional musical manuscripts to denote the pitch of written notes. Alphabetical notations 29 are marked on the record base and so positioned that the device may be used for music Written in the trebel cleif.

A bracket 30 is fixed to the top of the case and includes a portion which overhangs the circumferential portion of the record base. A comb 32 of brass or the like, one portion of which is formed as `a plurality of tone bars 34, is fixed to the overhanging portion of the bracket 30 vso that the ends of all the tone bars lie immediatelly above the upper surface 21 of the record base. When a tone bar 34 is plucked, it vibrates at a predetermined frequency and produces a note similar to the kind produced by a typical music box. The bracket 30 carries the vibrations of the tone bars to the wooden case whose large surface vibrates and transmits or couples the sound of the tone bar 34 to the ambient air to produce a sound of sugnicant volume.

The bit holes 26 formed in 4the lrecord base are small circular holes which serve to hold note bits 33. The note bits are small rods of steel or the like which t Within the holes 26 so that a portion of each bit protrudes above the upper surface 21 of the facing disk 20. The protruding portion of each note bit 33 is sufciently long toextend past the bottom of the tone bars 34. When the record base 18 is rotated, lthe note bits are moved past the comb 32 and each bit plunks a tone bar 34 of the comb to produce a sound.

As shown in FIG. 2, the bit holes 26 are arranged in a pattern whereby they lie in concentric circles and also along lines radiating from the center of the record base 18. The comb 32 is so mounted above the circumferential portion of the record base that each tone bar 34 is centered above one circle of holes concentric with lthe center of the record base 18, and all bars 34 are situated along an imaginary line 27 radiating from the center of the record base 18. The particular circle in which a bit 33 lies determines which tone bar 34 it will strike, and the particular radiating line along which the bit lies determines when it will strike a tone bar. All bits 33 situated along the same radiating line strike tone bars at the same time.

A plurality of bit holes forming a circle lies on each of the ve stati lines 28, on each of at least two equally spaced circles between adjacent stair lines, and on similarly spaced `circles on either side of the staff lines. The foregoing arrangement provides for the placing of note bits 33 in positions corresponding to each possible lateral position of a note on a written musical manuscript, and in addition, enables the placing of notes slightly above or below such positions to obtain tone pitches corresponding to sharps and flats, respectively. For example, the note commonly referred to as the first C above middle C, which is a vibration of approximately 261 cycles per second in pure philosophical pitch, is written on music paper or manuscript as a circle placed between the staff line B and staff line D. In the device of this invention, the note C is obtained by placing a bit 33 in a hole lying on the imaginary circle 36 situated midway between the staff lines B and D. A C sharp is played by placing a bit in a hole lying on an imaginary circle 38 adjacent the circle 36 and on the side nearest the D staff line. The note D is played by placing a bit in a hole lying on the D stafr line. The note D flat, -which is generally identical in pitch with the note C sharp, is played by placing a bit in a hole on the imaginary circle 38 which is adjacent the -D staff line and is the same circle used for the note C sharp. Thus,

the note bits are interspersed with the staff lines, and therefore may lie on or between the staff lines, or in the case of notes of very high or low pitch, outside of the basic live staif lines.

Certain notes in the conventional or most common musical scale are close in pitch to the next named note in the musical scale; for example, the notes B and C are so close together that B sharp is normally identical with C and C at is normally identical with B, Thus, there is no need for a circle of holes between the circle corresponding to notes B and C. Accordingly, the record base 1S is constructed without a circle between these notes. A tone bar 34 corresponding to the circle between B and C is, of course, not needed and is not included in the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3.

The notes of conventional written music are generally divided into groups called measures, each measure normally including three or four notes of a quarter-note length or the equivalent. In order to enable persons using the device to easily recall and keep track of the length of the various parts of a recorded melody, the record base 18 is divided into measures by radially extending lines. One group of lines 40 illustrated in FIG. 2 extends between the radially outer edge of the record base to the B staff line. These lines 40 are spaced eight holes apart. Thus, if bit holes 2'6 are considered to be an eighth-note apart, the lines 40 mark measures of four quarter-note lengths each and thus, .mark four-four time. Similarly, radially extending lines 42 extending between the radially inner edge of the arrangement of bit holes and the staff line B mark three-four time. These lines 40 land 42 are useful as reference marks in recording music which is in four-four or three-four time, respectively, or any multiple thereof.

In order to record a melody, note bits 33 are placed in bit holes 26 which extend through the upper disk 20 of the record base 18. Each note bit is generally a simple rod with almost square ends, though rounded or other shaped ends may be used. The bits -are of approximately the same diameter as the bit holes 26 in -which they fit, the diametrical clearance pro-vided being such as to enable the facile insertion of the bits while assuring adequate support by the walls of the holes. The note bit-s are all of the same length. The back-up plate 22 serves as the bottom of each bit hole land assures that each note bit will protrude the same, proper amount from the upper sur- 1flacle 21 of the facing disk 20 when fully inserted in its 1 o e.

The combination of two disks, one having cylindrical holes therethrough, in combination with -straight rods provides for note bits 33 of simple design which are easily inserted into the record base 18. However, numerous other arrangements may be used to enable the easy placement and removal of note bits which assure their uniform protrusion, such as providing collar-s on each bit or using a guide for pushing all pins into a uniform depth either from the back or front of a record base.

The recording of a melody may be accomplished by simulating an already written musical composition or by simulating a melody as it would be written on music paper, The beginning or rst measure of the composition is conveniently begun on the clockwise side of the vline 44. The line 44 extends radially across the circumferential portion of the record base and marks a coincidence of the three-four and four-four measure lines 40 and 42.

In order to more clearly indicate the pitch corresponding to each circle of bit holes, the names of the notes, A, B, C, D, E, F and G are marked along the line 44 and beside circles of bit holes, in such relationship to the staff lines as to dene notes in the treble cleff. Such markings enable a person using the device to learn the names of the notes in music scales by relating the names or letters of the notes to positions on the stall lines and the pitch of sounds played by the device.

In order to more adequately indicate the correspondence of the note bit positions and notes written on music paper, several conventionally written notes 46 are marked on the statt lines 28. These notes 46 are much larger than the bit holes 26 and more nearly approximate the size and appearance of notes relative to separation of statt lines, as conventionally written on musical manuscript.

`Recording a melody is accomplished in any of a number of ways. lf a melody already written on sheet music is to be played, bits 33 are placed in bit holes 26 lying on circles of holes corresponding closely to the placement of the written notes on the manuscript. A slight shifting radially outwardly or inwardly is made to account for Sharps and flats, respectively, as explained hereinbeiore. The position of the note bits circumferentially around the disk is determined by the particular measure it is in and the length of the preceeding notes in that measure. Where the sounds made by the particular embodiment of this invention are of a percussion nature as in the case for the iirst embodiment shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3 which employs vibrating bars, it is appropriate to sound the note at the very beginning of its Occurrence. For example, a whole note which would normally occupy an entire four-tour measure, would be played at the very beginning of the measure.

Thus, the circumferential placement is determined by first choosing the appropriate measure, the order of measures being identical with the order on the written music, although the placement ot the first measure of music is generally unimportant. Next, the placement within the measure is determined by noting when the beginning of that note occurs. For example, it a measure of the manuscript of four quarter notes length includes the following notes placed in the listed order: Quarter note, eighth note, eighth note, and half note, then pins are placed on the first radial line of holes or line marking the beginning of the measure, the third radial line of holes, the fourth line of holes and the iifth line of holes.

If a melody requires the placing of a note at a circumferential position between two radial lines Of bit holes, such placement can be made by using a special note bit which tits into the bit holes but has a protruding portion which is not in line with the hole. A special note bit of the foregoing kind is illustrated at 48 in FIG. 2.

After note bits are placed in appropriate bit holes the motor 12 is energized to cause the record base 1S to turn slowly in a counterclockwise direction. As the record base turns, the note bits 33 move p-ast the tone bars 34, plunk them and produce a sound. The series of sounds produced forms the recorded melody.

A second embodiment of the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 6. This embodiment includes a case and driving mechanism similar to that of the lirst embodiment shown in FIGS. l, 2 and 3. However, it utilizes a record base 50 without bit holes, but constructed of a magnetic material such as iron for holding magnetized note bits 52 of a magnetically retentive material such as hardened steel or an alnico composition of the type used for permanent magnets. The note bits 52 are -small magnets which magnetically grip the record base 50. The bits are adapted to move under a row of levers 56 of `a playing head 5S, each lever serving as an arm of an electrical switch 60 to thereby function as an element for interacting with note bits at one lateral position on the statt lines. The bits dellect the levers 56 so that they touch conductive strips 61 and close the switches. A sound system l62 comprising a plurality of electronic audio oscillators is used to produce sound. The oscillators may be any of the numerous, well known types. Each switch 60 is electrically connected to an oscillator in the sound system so that when a switch is closed the oscillator to which it is connected is activated and oscillates. The oscillator outputs are coupled to a loudspeaker 64 of the sound system, and a sound of appropriate pitch is emitted.

The note bits 52 are permanent magnets of substantially rectangular cross-section and are slightly curved, the radius of curvature being approximately equal `to the curvature of the B staff line which lies near the middle of the circumferential portion of the record base S0. The note -bits used are of several different lengths, each length corresponding to a different length of note such as quarter-note, half-note, etc. inasmuch as the angular extent or angle subtended by each bit depends to a small extent upon its radial positioning, the length of note represented by a bit depends upon where it is placed: the closer it is to the periphery of the record base S), the briefer the tone played. Lengths can be varied by using several short bits to build up each indivdual note, as shown at 53 in FIG. 4, by using note bits of a length especially adapted for a particular position in order to play standard length notes such as quarter notes, by using two thin bits for each note wherein the bits are adapted for relative sliding like a trombone to lengthen or shorten the bit as shown at 55 in FIG. 4, or by other methods.

To play a predetermined tune, note bits 52 are placed on the record base Si?, each bit radially positioned according to the pitch of the note to be played and circumferentially positioned according to the order in which it is to be played. For example, note bits corresponding to the first seven measures of the melody of the United States National Anthem, which begins Oh Say Can You See are shown in position on the record base of FIG. 4. The appearance of the record base can be compared with the appearance of a typical musical manuscript Shown in FIG. 5, on which is positioned the first seven measures of the National Anthem.

After the note bits are positioned to play a desired tune, a driving mechanism, as shown, for example, in FIGURE. l, is activated to cause the record base 50' to rotate past the playing head 58 and cause the note bits 52 to move under the switches 6i). As the note bits move under the switches, the bits 52 lift the levers 56 so that they contact conductive strips 61. When a lever 56 and strip 61 make contact, an oscillator in sound system 62 which is connected in series with a switch 6i) is turned on. The series of notes played by the series of note bits 52 causes the playing of a desired tune or melody.

The note bits 52 may be attached to the record base by magnetising the record base 5t) instead of the bits. This allows for the more convenient storage of the bits, inasmuch as they are then unlikely to stick together, especially if made of a magnetically non-retentive material such as soft iron. Additionally, adhesives, undercut slots in the record base, and other methods may be used.

Any of a variety of sound producing mechanisms may be used in place of the oscillators of the sound system 62. Such mechanisms should be so constructed that they may be activated or turned on and off electrically. It is also possible to place the sound mechanism in the playing head 53 and arrange for it to be turned on and oi mechanically; for example, a row of small whistles may be incorporated in the playing head, the air supply to each whistle being controlled by a lever used in place of the lever 56.

Instead of employing switches activated by the note bits 52, the closing of an electrical circuit can be made directly through the note bits in a manner shown in FIG. 7. In this variation, a row of conductive springs 70 attached to a playing head 7l is employed to contact the note bits 72. Another conductive spring 73 continually makes electrical contact with the record base 74. The conductive spring 73 is electrically grounded, so that the record base 74 and note bits 72 attached thereto by magnetic forces are also electrically grounded. The top of the note bits may be plated with copper, paladium, etc. to assure better electrical contact.

Each conductive spring 70 is connected to one lead of an electronic oscillator of predetermined pitch, another lead of the oscillator being grounded. Thus, when a conductive spring 70 contacts a note bit, the oscillator connected to that conductive spring is activated and emits a tone of predetermined pitch. This variation of the second embodiment is similar to the device shown in FIG. 6 except that it is simpler.

A third embodiment of the invention, shown in FIG. 8 employs a transparent record base 80 and a playing head comprising a light source assembly `85 positioned above the record base, and a photoelectric sensor assembly 87 including photoelectric cells 90, positioned below the record base. Short opaque lines 83 drawn on the surface of the record base 80 serve as note bits. When a note bit 88 is positioned between the light source assembly 85 and the photoelectric sensor assembly 87, no light reaches the cells and they become electrically conducting. Electrical oscillators in a sound system similar to the system 62 of FIG. 4, are connected to the photoelectric cells 90, and when the cells are conducting, the oscillators generate a tone.

The light source 85 of the playing head comprises a lamp 84 such as an elongated incadescent or ilorescent lamp. A concave light reilector 86- serves to concentrate the light rays from the lamp toward the record base `80. A thick mask 92 having a hole 94 for each pitch of sound playable by the device is positioned between the lamp 84 and base 80 to allow only narrow columns of light to shine on the base. If there is no notebit -83 in the Way of the column of light, it passes through the transparent base 80, through a hole 94 in a sensor mask 96, and shines on one of a series of photocells 90.

ach photocell is preferably of the type which becomes conducting when no light falls on it and is non-conducting when illuminated; this property is generally called negative photoconductivity. However, the more generally available photocells displaying positive photoconductivity may be used with small changes. For example, if each oscillator is constructed so that some part required for oscillation is shorted out by the photocell 90, ordinary photocells may be used. Each photocell 90 includes an electrical lead 98 connected to all other cells 90 and to the sound system 62. Another, second electrical lead 100 is connected to each cell 90, each second lead being connected to an oscillator of a predetermined pitch.

Note bits 88 are applied to the base 80 by drawing with a heavy grease pencil of rectangular cross-section to enable the drawing of lines of uniform width. Many alternative methods used as pasting opaque tape on the base 80 may be used. Staff lines 81 are marked lightly on the surface as by scratches, to indicate the placement of the note bits.

A rotating mechanism similar to that shown in FIG. l is used and the operation of the third embodiment is, except as otherwise described, generally similar to that of the other embodiments. Many variations of the third embodiment may be utilized, including the employment of mirror-like bits to reect light beams to photocells instead of blocking them.

While a circular, disk-like record base has been shown in each of the embodiments, obviously many other shapes may be used. One of the more important variations is a rectangularly shaped record base in which the staff lines are straight so that its appearance approaches even more closely that of the typical musical manuscript. Automatic feeding mechanisms of the nature of record changers may be employed to enable the playing of many record bases in succession to allow for the recording and play-back of longer musical compositions.

This invention enables the producing of self playing music devices of an entirely new type having educational and entertainment features entirely lacking in previous devices. Although particular embodiments of the invention have been chosen for illustration, they are presented only by way of example, many modications and variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. A music device for playing compositions in accordance with the positions of note bits comprising:

a record base having surface portion containing a plurality or" music staff lines, said record base adapted to receive said note bits at positions continuously variable along the length of said lines to permit the start of a note at any instant with respect to other notes and to permit rapid removal of said blts to prevent the playing of said note; and

means responsive to said note bits for producing sounds with pitches dependent upon the lateral position of said note bits with respect to said staff lines and with tlmes of sounding dependent upon the position of said bits along the length of said staff lines.

2. The music device described in claim ll wherein: sald record base comprises a substantially rigid member; and

said note bits comprise elements having a first side portion for attachment to said record base and an lcpposite side portion protruding from said record ase.

3. The music device described in claim il wherein:

said record base includes ve music statf lines evenly spaced from each other defining note bit positions for sounding natural notes, intermediate means positioned midway between adjacent of said ve lines defining note bit positions for sounding natural notes, and means positioned between said staff lines and some of said intermediate means to define bit positions for sounding sharp and iiat notes.

4. The music device described in claim 1 wherein:

said record base and note bits are constructed of material which can be magnetically attracted, at least some of said material being magnetized to draw said record base and note bits together.

5. The music device described in claim 1 including:

a plurality of note bits defining different sound durations; and wherein said means responsive to said note bits is constructed to produce sounds of diiferent durations in accordance with the durations defined by said note bits.

6. Apparatus for enabling the automatic production of a melody by the positioning of note bits on music staff lines of the apparatus in a manner corresponding to the conventional positioning of marks on a music manuscript comprising:

a record base having a surface portion containing a plurality of music staff lines, for holding said note bits on the area containing said staff lines at positions continually variable along the extension of said lines in a maner to permit rapid removal and repositioning of the bits;

playing head means including a plurality of switch means for operation by said note bits, each switch means controlling the production of a sound of predetermined pitch; and

means for moving said record base relative to said playing head means for bringing said note bits into position to operate said switch means.

7. The apparatus described in claim 6 wherein:

said note bits are of variable length; and

said switch means comprises means operable for durations dependent upon the lengths of said note bits; and

said playing head means includes means coupled to said switch means for producing a sound for a duration corresponding to the duration of operation of said switch means.

8. The music device described in claim 6 wherein:

a plurality of said note bits comprises elongated bars for mounting on said surface portion of said record base, with portions of said bars protruding from said surface portion; and

said switch means includes portions positioned in the path of said note bits for deflection by said note bits.

9. The music device described in claim 6 wherein:

said playing head means includes a plurality of oscillator means for producing electrical oscillations, speaker means for producing audible sounds in accordance with said oscillations and means for coupling said switch means to said oscillator means.

10. The music device described in claim 6 including:

a plurality of note bits having rst sides for attachment to said record base and second sides which protrude from said base when said first sides are attached thereto; and wherein said switch means comprises a multiplicity of 'exible arms with end portions disposed in the path of said note bits for deflection by said bits.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 4/1902 Crooks 84-147 X 9/ 1916 Clement 84-1.03 10/1920 Byrne 84-161 4/1921 Miller E34-1.03

3/1925 Jones 84-147 X 7/1964 Kisker 84-1.03

3/ 1900 Natterer 84-97 12/1925 Haas 84-102 6/1951 Goldman 84-97 X 9/1951 Eckhardt |84---102 11/1949 Barnum 84--102 2/1957 Haricot 84-97 FOREIGN PATENTS 5/ 1957 Germany.

U.S. Cl. X.R. 

